Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting structure and a mirror head pivotally mounted at the mounting structure via a pivot joint. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a display and mirror assembly, which includes a frame portion, a video display screen at a front side of the frame portion, and a mirror reflective element at a front side of the video mirror display screen. The mirror reflective element includes a variable reflectivity liquid crystal (VRLC) stack of layers, which have a liquid crystal (LC) layer disposed between a rear glass substrate and a front glass substrate. The front and rear glass substrates are integrated in the VRLC stack of layers. With the mounting structure mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle, the video display screen is operable to display video images derived from video images provided by an ECU of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular radar sensing system includes a radar sensor disposed at the vehicle so as to have a field of sensing exterior of the vehicle. The radar sensor includes a plurality of transmitters that transmit radio signals and a plurality of receivers that receive radio signals. The received radio signals are transmitted radio signals that are reflected from from a radar reflective sign that is present along a road being traveled by the vehicle and in the field of sensing of the radar sensor. The radar reflective sign has radar reflective information. A control, via processing of outputs of the receivers by a processor, determines the radar reflective information. A display may display the determined radar reflective information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The control may control at least one guidance function of the vehicle responsive at least in part to the determined radar reflective information.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight has a segmented light guide device in which segments are selectively controlled to operate in an output state that reduces glare to oncoming vehicle drivers. Vehicle sensors and controller circuitry are used to identify areas of glare removal in the light pattern of the headlight and control the corresponding segments in the light guide device to operate in a selected light output state that reduces glare. The segments can be operated in a focused output state for vehicle driver visibility, or in a scattered output state to reduce glare. The segments can be operated in a clear or transparent output state for vehicle driver visibility, or in a reflected output state to reduce glare. Reflected light can optionally be re-directed. The light guide device can employ bi-stable liquid crystal shuttering or liquid crystal switchable mirror technology.

Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting structure and a mirror head pivotally mounted at the mounting structure via a pivot joint. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a display and mirror assembly, which includes a frame portion, a video display screen at a front side of the frame portion, and a mirror reflective element at a front side of the video mirror display screen. The mirror reflective element includes a variable reflectivity liquid crystal (VRLC) stack of layers, which have a liquid crystal (LC) layer disposed between a rear glass substrate and a front glass substrate. The front and rear glass substrates are integrated in the VRLC stack of layers. With the mounting structure mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle, the video display screen is operable to display video images derived from video images provided by an ECU of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electronic latch system for a motor vehicle includes an electronic latch (e-latch) including an e-latch controller within a door of the vehicle. A plurality of radar sensors are located within the door for performing non-contact detection of objects around the vehicle. The radar sensors include an outside-face sensor adjacent an outside face of the door to sense an object within a first sensing zone extending from the outside face. The radar sensors also include an inner sensor adjacent an inside surface of the door to sense an object within a second sensing zone extending from the inside surface. The radar sensors also include a shut-face sensor adjacent a shut face of the door to sense an object within a third sensing zone extending from the shut face. The e-latch includes a light source for projecting a warning image and an audio source for generating an audible warning.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for detecting an object is disclosed. The sensor assembly includes at least one radar transmitter configured to emit transmitted radar waves having a first polarization. The sensor assembly also includes at least one radar receiver configured to receive the transmitted radar waves after reflecting from the object as reflected radar waves having a second polarization different than the first polarization and corresponding with a detection of the object relative to the sensor assembly. The at least one radar receiver is additionally configured to reject radar waves having a polarization being different than the second polarization to disregard noise generated by environmental interaction of the transmitted radar waves and from extraneous radar sources.

Abstract: A motor vehicle light assembly includes a housing; a light source disposed in the housing, and a light-transmissive lens operably attached to the housing. A heater member is disposed between the housing and the light-transmissive lens. The heater member is configured to radiate heat emitted from the light source, with the heater member being routed to direct the radiated heat onto the light-transmissive lens to regulate the temperature of the light-transmissive lens to inhibit fogging, frosting and icing of the light-transmissive lens.

Abstract: A digital imaging system and method of image data processing are provided. The system includes a main lens configured to focus light from a field of view for a plurality of depths of field and project a plurality of intermediary images representing the depths of field. An image sensor assembly is in a spaced relationship with the main lens and includes a light sensors grouped into sensor sub-arrays. An intermediate microlens array is disposed between the main lens and the image sensor assembly and includes intermediate micro lenses adjacent to and abutting one another to focus the intermediary images onto one of the sensor sub-arrays from a different perspective than another adjacent micro lens. A control unit captures and stores image data associated with the intermediary images and creates a three-dimensional depth map. The control unit also calculates distance information of objects to detect a gesture or obstacle.

Abstract: A radar sensor assembly includes a sensor printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A radar transceiver is disposed at the first side of the sensor PCB and includes a plurality of antennas configured for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) radiation. A heat sink is disposed adjacent to the radar transceiver and is configured to dissipate heat from the radar transceiver. The radar transceiver is sandwiched between the heat sink and the sensor PCB. The heat sink is configured to allow the RF radiation to pass therethrough without guiding the RF radiation.

Abstract: A vehicular radar sensing system includes a radar sensor disposed at the vehicle so as to have a field of sensing exterior of the vehicle. The radar sensor includes a plurality of transmitters that transmit radio signals and a plurality of receivers that receive radio signals. The received radio signals are transmitted radio signals that are reflected from from a radar reflective sign that is present along a road being traveled by the vehicle and in the field of sensing of the radar sensor. The radar reflective sign has radar reflective information. A control, via processing of outputs of the receivers by a processor, determines the radar reflective information. A display may display the determined radar reflective information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The control may control at least one guidance function of the vehicle responsive at least in part to the determined radar reflective information.

Abstract: An electromagnetic-based sensor system includes a sensor assembly with a biometric identification sensor to determine a unique biometric characteristic of a user using a first non-visible electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, a palm vein sensor may measure a unique pattern of veins in a user's palm using near-field infrared light. A gesture sensor uses a second non-visible electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared or radio frequency to detect movement in a specific gesture pattern. An object detection sensor uses a third non-visible electromagnetic radiation to detect the presence of an object. A mirror overlies the sensor assembly and is reflective to visible light and transmissive to the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. The sensor assembly may be used within a vehicle to authenticate an individual user as an authorized user to unlock the vehicle. One or more settings of the vehicle may be set to predetermined values depending on the identity of the user.

Abstract: A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor disposed at the vehicle so as to have a field of sensing exterior of the vehicle. The radar sensor includes a plurality of transmitters that transmit radio signals and a plurality of receivers that receive radio signals. The received radio signals are transmitted radio signals that are reflected from an object. A control has a processor for processing outputs of the receivers. The transmitted radio signals reflect off a radar reflective object, which includes one of radar reflective road markings or radar reflective signs. The control, via processing of outputs of the receivers by the processor, determines information pertaining to the radar reflective object based on the reflected radio signals.

Abstract: A motor vehicle light assembly includes a housing; a light source disposed in the housing, and a light-transmissive lens operably attached to the housing. A heater member is disposed between the housing and the light-transmissive lens. The heater member is configured to radiate heat emitted from the light source, with the heater member being routed to direct the radiated heat onto the light-transmissive lens to regulate the temperature of the light-transmissive lens to inhibit fogging, frosting and icing of the light-transmissive lens.

Abstract: A motor vehicle light assembly includes a housing; a light source disposed in the housing, and a light-transmissive lens operably attached to the housing. A heater member is disposed between the housing and the light-transmissive lens. The heater member is configured to radiate heat emitted from the light source, with the heater member being routed to direct the radiated heat onto the light-transmissive lens to regulate the temperature of the light-transmissive lens to inhibit fogging, frosting and icing of the light-transmissive lens.

Abstract: A sensing system for a vehicle includes a sensor disposed at a vehicle and a control that includes a processor for processing sensor data captured by the sensor. A first polarizer is disposed in a light emitting path of at least one light source of the vehicle and a second polarizer is disposed in a light receiving path of the sensor. The second polarizer has an opposite-handed polarization configuration relative to the first polarizer. Some of the polarized light as polarized by the first polarizer impinges precipitation present in the field of sensing of the sensor and returns toward the sensor as refracted-reflected light. The second polarizer attenuates the refracted-reflected light and allows light reflected from objects present in the sensor's field of sensing to pass through to the sensor. The control, responsive to processing of captured sensor data, detects objects in the field of sensing of the sensor.

Abstract: An electromagnetic-based sensor system includes a sensor assembly with a biometric identification sensor to determine a unique biometric characteristic of a user using a first non-visible electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, a palm vein sensor may measure a unique pattern of veins in a user's palm using near-field infrared light. A gesture sensor uses a second non-visible electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared or radio frequency to detect movement in a specific gesture pattern. An object detection sensor uses a third non-visible electromagnetic radiation to detect the presence of an object. A mirror overlies the sensor assembly and is reflective to visible light and transmissive to the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. The sensor assembly may be used within a vehicle to authenticate an individual user as an authorized user to unlock the vehicle. One or more settings of the vehicle may be set to predetermined values depending on the identity of the user.

Abstract: A motor vehicle light assembly includes a housing; a light source disposed in the housing, and a light-transmissive lens operably attached to the housing. A heater member is disposed between the housing and the light-transmissive lens. The heater member is configured to radiate heat emitted from the light source, with the heater member being routed to direct the radiated heat onto the light-transmissive lens to regulate the temperature of the light-transmissive lens to inhibit fogging, frosting and icing of the light-transmissive lens.

Abstract: A light assembly for a vehicle includes quantum dots that are excitable by sources of electromagnetic radiation. The assembly may include a lens and a reflector, and the quantum dots may be disposed adjacent the reflector and/or in the lens. A controller may receive a signal to produce a particular color and activate one or more source of electromagnetic radiation, and one or more subsets of the quantum dots may be excited in response to activating the particular source of electromagnetic radiation. The assembly may include a panel having quantum dots embedded therein. The panel may be illuminated by the quantum dots in response to activating one or more source of electromagnetic radiation. The panel may have different zones with different quantum dots that produces distinct areas with different colors. The sources of electromagnetic radiation may be activated separately to produce different colors or simultaneously to produce a blended color.

Abstract: A latch assembly for driving a closure panel from a closed panel position to an open panel position.

Abstract: A digital imaging system and method of image data processing are provided. The system includes a main lens configured to focus light from a field of view for a plurality of depths of field and project a plurality of intermediary images representing the depths of field. An image sensor assembly is in a spaced relationship with the main lens and includes a light sensors grouped into sensor sub-arrays. An intermediate microlens array is disposed between the main lens and the image sensor assembly and includes intermediate micro lenses adjacent to and abutting one another to focus the intermediary images onto one of the sensor sub-arrays from a different perspective than another adjacent micro lens. A control unit captures and stores image data associated with the intermediary images and creates a three-dimensional depth map. The control unit also calculates distance information of objects to detect a gesture or obstacle.